Game apparatus.



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFioE.

JOHN L. E. PELL AND EDWARD L, C. CLARK, OF GREAT BARRINGTON,MASSAOHUSETIS.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 4, 1 908.

Application filed May 20. 1905. Serial No. 261,304. Renewed June29.1907. Serial No. 381.549.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, JOHN L. E. PELL and EDWARD L. C. CLARK, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Great Barrington, MassachusettsJ haveinvented certain new and useful lm rovements in Game Apparatus, of whicht e following is a clear, full, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved game apparatusfor simulating the game of basket ball or the like.

ln carrying out this invention it is our desire to adapt the apparatusto allow the gaine to be carried on upon a small scale and at the sametime succeed in maintaining an interest in it by the players.

1t is particularly adapted for play upon tables, floors of rooms andeven upon lawns limited in size.

As in the well recognized game of this description, a pair of supportsplaced in opposition for the baskets is essential. We supply betweenthese baskets a court marked out into spaces, preferably squares alongthe other boundary of the court. Each of the squares or certain ones maybe allotted to selparate players who will play upon the ball w ich comesinto their domain.

The supports may consist of plane surfaces supported upon broad bases,and 1 prefer that each support be formed of a ,portion preferably a halfportion of the box which is to contain the game. For this purpose thebox is formed of a right prism and broad supporting bases are providedone to each box y dividing the box along an oblique longitudinal plane.

Each surface of the box parts which is to directly support the apparatusis provided with suitable attachment means preferably sockets in theshape of rings into which a post of a pair of frames at right angles toeach other may t. One of these frames is sup lied with a deadening netadapted to lie in t e plane of the box portion surface while the otheris preferably of curved or circular shape and carries a basket. The postcomprises an adequate and ready means for attaching the parts to thesurface, while the frame carrying the deadening net is adapted to bearagainst the surface and hold the parts in rigid position.

. Thel court may at times be omitted, but

we prefer in some cases to provide a court which may be of any material,preferably a fabric which may be folded and. placed within the box.

ln the accompanying drawings, we have shown a perspective view of ourimproved invention.

The two parts of the box 1 and 2 are formed with a broad base 3constituted by one end side of each of the parts. The surfaces 4, whichin the box proper are the outer sides of the top and bottomrespectively, are perpendicular to said broad base. The side 5 oppositethe broad base is of smaller area than the base, and the sides (i whichconnect the sides 5 and 3 are formed in consequence with an oblique edge7 so that when the two parts are fitted together they will form a properrectangular box. The court S is preferably of a felted fabric and iswith advantage laid outl as shown in the drawing, into a set of squaresalong each side.

Each surface 4 is provided with rings 9, two in this instance for eachsurface. A frame 10 shown as rectangular and. having projections orbuttons 11 on' its rear is provided with a post 12 to 'fit within therings and also with a projecting frame 13 having a curved end in ahorizontal plane when in position for play. The frame 13 is providedwith a basket 14 preferably of loosely knit cording, while the frame 10is covered with a deadening screen preferably of taut and coarsely wovenwires or cords.

The rules of the game will obviously be such as required by theindividual players. We have found in a parlor game that sitting playersof opposite sides alternating down the board one to each marked outsquare and putting the ball or other device 14 into play by rolling ortossing it against one of the su ports to cause it to roll into one oftie squares, for the player of that square to play it, is a good way.The player that thus receives it either makes a toss to the basket orplays it into the square or into the hands of a partner whois in betterposition to play the saine.

' Ve claim as our invention:

l. The herein described game apparatus comprising a game containing box,a air of baskets and frames therefor, the ha ves of said box forming apair of supports one for each basket, each support provided With meansto receive and hold a basket frame.

2. The herein described game apparatus comprising a game containing box,a pair of baskets and -frames therefor, the halves of said box forming apair of supports one for each basket, each support having a broad baseand a surface at right angles thereto and sides having oblique edges,each support provided With means to receive and hold a basket.

3. The herein described game apparatus comprising apair of supports,sockets thereon, each support provided With a deadening net and a basketa common frame for net and basket and a post on the frame adapted to fitthe sockets.

4. The herein described game apparatus comprising apair of supports,sockets thereon1 a rectangular frame .having projections on its rear,and a post depending from its lower edge, a basket holding frameextending at right angles to the post, said post adapted to be removablyattached to the sockets.

5. The herein described game apparatus comprising a pair of supports,composed of two portions of a box each having a broad base and a surfacein a plane at right angles c JOHN L. E. PELL. EDWARD L. C. CLARK.

Vitnesses:

HELEN M. DUNLAP, ELsIE K. SMITH,

